Tri-River Museums host 'Spring into the Past' May 4-5

The Tri-River Historical Museum Network, an association of mid-Michigan historical museums, is hosting “Spring into the Past” from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There will be 22 unique area museums open for visitors and many participating museums will be hosting special events as well.

• Ionia Free Fair Antique Village – exhibits only in July during Ionia Free Fair

• Lake Odessa Historical Society Depot Museum – displays, archives

• Lowell Area Historical Museum – in old home with Victorian flair

• Lyons/Muir Historical Museum in Lyons – newly redone in old store

• Oakfield Pioneer Heritage Museum in Podunk – west of Greenville

• Old Fence Rider Historical Center in Edmore – barbed wire and more

• Pine Forest Historical Museum – variety in an old Edmore church

• Plainfield Charter Township's Hyser Rivers Museum – NE Grand Rapids

• Rockford Area Museum – opening in new location later this summer

• Welch Historical Museum – in former hardware store in Sunfield

The Tri-River Historical Museum Network, an association of mid-Michigan historical museums, is hosting "Spring into the Past" from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There will be 22 unique area museums open for visitors and many participating museums will be hosting special events as well.

Saranac Historical Society President, Pat Raimer, said that the Saranac Depot Museum's feature of Michigan's first roadside table, which was placed in 1929, will be one of the highlights of the event. Allan Williams' roadside table was located on the southeast corner of Grand River Avenue and Morrison Lake Road south of Saranac.

Since M-66 was the main route between Detroit, Lansing, and Grand Rapids at that time, this roadside table was seen by many Michigan residents. In addition to Williams' table, the Saranac Depot is also hosting a bake sale, a large military display and a display of Larry's Store, which operated in Saranac from 1950-1997.

The Belding Museum and Belding Exploration Lab will also be open this weekend for the event. All museums in Montcalm and Ionia counties will have free admission during the tours.

The Belding Museum Secretary, Jan Mehney, said a highlight of the weekend will be the special exhibit at the Belding Museum, "A Celebration of Vintage Fashion," which depicts clothing styles through the decades. Visitors may also view the updated displays throughout the museum's three floors. The Belding Museum in located in the historic Belrockton at 103 Hanover St.

The Ionia County Historical Society will be hosting the event at the Blanchard House and is celebrating the founding of Ionia 180 years ago. This event will feature cake, ice cream, tours of the Blanchard House, and a bake sale.

Linda Ciangi, member of the group, has helped to organize the event and is excited for the presentation of the Ypsilanti Reed Furniture showcase in the museum's conservatory. The Ypsilanti Reed Furniture Company started in Ypsilanti in 1901 and moved to Ionia in 1904. For the event, the Blanchard House will feature many new showcases that pay tribute to Ionia's history, from the Dexter Colony settlements in 1833 forward.

In addition to the new showcases, the museum gift shop will also be open this weekend. Stephanie VanderMolen, president of the Ionia County Historical Society, will be helping with the quilt raffle on Sunday. The quilt was started by a descendant of John C. Blanchard and many local residents aided in its completion. Tickets for the quilt raffle are still available.

In addition to the "Spring into the Past" event this weekend, the Ionia County Historical Society will be hosting the Upstairs Downtown Tour on May 18 in downtown Ionia and the Antique Fayre and Flea Market May 31 and June 1 at the Blanchard House.